Key facts
- Most OECD capitals are experiencing a trend of population concentration easing.
- Tokyo and Seoul are experiencing the opposite trend, with population influx.
- High housing prices and remote work are contributing factors to population dispersal in other capitals.
- Higher wages and better job opportunities are driving population growth in Tokyo and Seoul.
- The trend in Tokyo and Seoul occurs despite rising costs of living.
Tokyo and Seoul are diverging from a global trend among OECD capitals, where population concentration is easing. While many major cities are seeing residents move out due to high housing prices and the rise of remote work, both Tokyo and Seoul are experiencing an influx of new residents. This counter-trend is primarily driven by the pursuit of higher wages and enhanced job opportunities available in these metropolitan centers. Despite the escalating costs of living in these cities, the allure of better economic prospects continues to draw people in. The phenomenon in Tokyo and Seoul suggests that economic pull factors can outweigh the disincentives of high living expenses and the flexibility offered by remote work arrangements, which have contributed to population dispersal in other capital cities.